Page 128 of Perfect Three

Chapter Fifty-One

Lucy woke first inthe morning.Her headache had gone, but she felt awful.Inside her mouth tasted as if she’d been licking the floor of the chicken coop. Confusion still rattled around her thoughts.The events of yesterday were all jumbled up in her mind.Some of them felt like a dream while others were vivid.She crawled down the end of the bed then went into the bathroom.

Peering in the mirror, it finally hit her exactly how awful she looked.Her eyes were red, dark smudges underneath each, and her face haggard and pale.Her hair looked like the proverbial bird’s nest, messy and dull.

The past six weeks had taken a toll on her—and then to actually get drunk and want to kill herself!

She wondered what would have happened if the men hadn’t turned up.Would she have gone ahead with her plan?She wondered if when she sobered up, she’d change her mind.

At least she had Allison to thank for saving her.That reminded her of the things she’d said to her daughter.They couldn’t be taken back.Well, Allison has no one to blame but herself.

She cleaned her teeth, hoping to take away the horrid taste in her mouth.Stripping, Lucy turned on the shower and stepped gratefully into it.She closed her eyes and let the water wash away her confusion.The spray on her skin helped wash away some of her fears.With each passing minute, she felt better and better, and Lucy couldn’t wipe the grin from her lips.

Her men were back!

They were back for good!Andshe could still see her grandchildren!

She heard someone use the toilet, then Sebastian wandered into the bathroom, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

“Morning, beautiful.”He stripped off and entered the shower with Lucy.He kissed her lightly, then picked up the shampoo bottle.“Turn around.”

Lucy obeyed and he began washing her hair.He massaged her head and she wanted to melt against his body, it was that good.When he finished, she washed the soap off her head and Sebastian rubbed in conditioner.

“You’ve been neglecting yourself, Lou.”He added sternly, “No more, understand?”

She nodded.He turned her around and she looked up into his serious face.

“I mean it, Lou.I understand how bad it’s been for you, but you have to look after yourself.”

“I know,” she said in a subdued voice.“I’m sorry I...I got so lost.I...”She gulped.

He nodded and kissed her temple.“Give me the soap.”

Lucy reached out and picked up a cake then handed it to Sebastian.He twisted her around again, and she stood quietly while he washed her back.Then he turned her back to face him.

She had tears prickling her eyes, hating that he was upset with her.

He looked at her face.“It’s okay, sweetheart.I’m not angry.I just want you better.I can understand what happened, but it’s in the past now.”

She nodded.

“Move over!”

Jack came into the shower.

Lucy was damn glad her grandparents had enlarged it years before.Her grandmother had been confined to a wheelchair in her final years, and so her grandfather had gotten this enormous shower made so it was easier to wash her.There were even two shower heads, one either side of a built-in bench seat so her grandfather could sit down when he washed her grandmother.

“Morning, all.”

Sebastian leaned over and kissed him.Then Jack kissed Lucy and she sighed.This was what she’d missed so much, sharing their love.

“How’s the head this morning, Lou?”

“Clearer.I will never, ever drink alcohol again!”

“Amen to that!”Sebastian proclaimed loudly.He’d finished washing her and moved her under the spray so he could wash the conditioner off her hair.

Jack examined her critically.“When was the last time you ate properly, Lou?”

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